Call me Gloria. I was born and raised in the Philippines and now resides in Europe. This is the story of my life,
, my memories of the days gone by but which I luckily preserved in pictures and the glorious food I have eaten and learned to cook
during my travels around the 19 countries I visited since 2002 and my life in the 2 continents, Asia and Europe where I was very fortunate to live
My gratitude to a special person who made me see the world I never thought I will see

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Above was sunrise in the Island of Aeroskobing, Aero Denmark fronting the Baltic Sea. One of the favorite places and peaceful places I was able to visit because of a family friends wedding which was held in this beautiful island.

Sunset,said to be the best one in the southern tip of India, in Kanniyakumari. It was indeed spectacular. Unfortunately, I do not have a nice camera to capture it. Tourist visit the place to experience this spectacular view. I am so blessed to have experienced it before I die. It was a gift of love

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Stadthuis, City Hall, Town Hall, Rathaus , the place with many names in English, Dutch and German. Here is Town/City Hall of Kortrijk in West Flanders in Belgium

The
City Hall was built in the Transitional Style of the Late
Gothic-Renaissance which facade is decorated with the statues that
represent the Counts of Flanders.

It is
a pity that I was not able to go around the interior of the this
beautiful building as I was only passing by when I saw it. I was
heading to another important part of my trip... a visit to an Asian
Shop called Trung Son located somewhere in the city where I get to
buy Asian food once in a while

The Statues of the Counts of Flanders guarding the facade of the City Hall

Monday, May 14, 2018

Maybe funny, but when I visited the Philippines last 2016, I found lots of Langka (Jackfruit) sold in the markets and in one corner of Sampalok Lake which I saw when I was brisk walking.

I brought some packs of Geliertzucker from Bremen where I reside at the moment. These Geliertzucker are specially prepared sugar for making jams/marmaladed from the fruits harvested during the spring and summer season.

In Germany, I make Kirschmarmelade (Cherry Marmalade), Johannisbeerenmarmelade and Quittemarmelade from the fruits which we harvested from our trees around the yard, so when I saw and smelled ready to eat Langka fruit , I thought I must preserve some of these fruits until I return to Germany and enjoy it with our native bread called Pandesal with nice brewed coffee during breaksfast

Here are the result of my experiment in pictures below:

Langka (Jackfruit) from the Philippines and Geliertzucker from Germany, another untion of 2 cultures

Testing the consistency if it is hard enough to spead over bread

To invert the glass after the hot marmalade is placed in the glasses until they get cold. This was the method Ive learned from the German housewives who taught me how to make marmalades/jams

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Mattupetty Dam is one of a beautiful places of interest that is located about 13 km from Munnar Town. Mattupetty is situated at a height of 1700 meter above sea level, Mattupetty is known for its storage masonry dam and the beautiful lake, which offers pleasurable boat rides and nice view especially from afar.Munnar is one of the most beautiful and popular hill stations in the Southern State of India, Kerala and the site of vast tea plantations/estates in the South of India.

Mattupetty is located approximately 13 kilometers away from Munnar and the Mattupetty hill town lies at a height of 1,700 meters, the main attractions of which are the Mattupetty Dam and Mattupetty Lake which plays an important role in water conservation and power generation.

The view below , while I was at the middle of the Masonry Dam which look like a bridge or a bridge where trucks and other vehicles and pedestrians can pass through

Sunday, April 29, 2018

I am feeling nostalgic again, it is spring time in Europe and yet it is cloudy and rainy. I feel very cold and I am missing my home, the Philippines. Walis Tingting is one of the things I asked my friends to bring me when they travel back to Germany. I was missing it while cleaning the yard , especially during the autumn season . I am not used using those brushes with long handles to clean a yard. And so when my friends asked me what I want as a "pasalubong" from the Philippines, I asked them for the Walis Tingting.

Walis Tingting is a housewife's early morning weapon in the morning in the Philippines to clean the yard from dirts and garbage. There is no house or home in the Phiippines without it. I find it so easy to use them and so sturdy and strong, unlike those brushes which they asked me to use in Germany and most of all , I can clean faster and better.

Walis is the Filipino (Tagalog) word for Broom and Tingting is stick of midribs of coconut leaves, hence it is called "broomstick" in English. Together with a nice and strong dustpan, autumn leaves have no match with me. They are generally used to clean or sweep the bare floor or ground on the yard.

Walis Tingting is made from the midribs of the coconut leaves and mostly used outdoors. Can you imagine how many leaves of coconut are needed to have one piece of Walis Tingting and the patience of those people producing them. The last time I was in the Philippines, my dearest neighbor had given 2 pieces to me as a welcome gift and I was very happy. They are part of Filipino way of life which I brought with me in Austria and Germany. I left one of my 2 pieces in Klosterneuburg in Lower Austria where I lived for some months and which I used to clean the backyard and soon my favorite one will be thrown away in Germany.

There I was below, using my very reliable Walis Tingting. I was so proud to use them cleaning our frontyard in Bremen. Not one of my neighbor has what I have to clean their yard faster.

A Sari-Sari store (Variety store) which is also selling Walis Tingting. They not only sell food, but also have a big supply of the Walis because they are always in demand. And below is an old couple who produce these Walis Tingting which they source from the Coconut Tree around their backyard. They were going to supply a variety store with their produce.

There is nothing like this in Europe. This is something I so treasure from my home, the Philippines and it gives me a little joy on this cold, lonely day to write about it as it is part of me being a Filipino

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Talipapa is the Tagalog word that refers to a small, temporary food market , usually a makeshift market and also a mobile or roaming market which is called Talipapang Gala.

Talipapang Gala makes used of rectangular box-like wooden structure with 4 wheels being pushed to sell and offer the goods all displayed inside the wooden structure. Nowadays, the last time I visited my country, some are already using bicycles and motorcycles to sell food assorted vegetables and fruits and even fish and meat.

It amazes me all the time how inventive the Filipinos are and I am happy we have these things in the Philippines. It makes marketing for food easier and simplier for those housewives who has not enough time to visit a big wet maket which is usually located at the city center.

Please enjoy my pictures of these Talipapa as much as I enjoy them. I do miss my home. Below are pictures I made of an example of Talipapang Gala which stopped right infront of my house in San Pablo City in the Philippines. There is nothing like this in Europe.